Eruku, an agrarian community in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, became a theatre of war as bandits, numbering about 20, attacked a local church in the town on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
The dare-devil and heavily armed bandits were said to have besieged the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in the outskirts of the town around 6pm during the evening service.
The worshippers, five of whom were said to have died from the sporadic gunshots before the bandits eventually entered the church, were whisked away by the gunmen into unknown location in the bush.
The sporadic gunshots, which lasted more than one hour, were heard everywhere in the town as residents in other places ran helter-skelter for their lives.
The assault also forced travelers and residents to abandon vehicles and homes, and flee into surrounding bushes to escape the armed invasion.
Though details are sketchy from the attack, several eyewitness reports said the sustained gunfire resulted in a prolonged pandemonium as the people feared the bandits were advancing to other parts of the town.
The town, which hosts the largest yam market in Kwara State, has many settlers and non-indigenes, including Fulani, Igala, Beriberi and Nupe, who are feared could be informants to bandits.
Indeed, the bandits were said to have attacked the town twice earlier when vigilantes and hunters rescued about 40 cows in a ranch in the town and 18 passengers in a bus who were attacked while returning from a wedding to the town, one of whom died during the rescue operation.
Also, religious institutions, including the Benedictine Monastery in Eruku, were not spared in previous attacks, where lives were lost.
All appeals to the State and local government authorities to strengthen security in the area have yielded no result as other neighbouring towns, including Obbo Ile, Obbo Aiyegunle, Osi, and Isapa continue to cry over sustained bandits attacks.